Warren Garland King Sr. died Monday, May 30, 2016.
He moved from Ararat to Nashville, Tenn., after World War II to study printing. He passed away from kidney failure at the VA Hospital in Durham N.C.
He was born September 6,1925 in Ararat. He was proceeded in death by his parents, Sam Moore and Jettie Mae Gammons King; six brothers, Harvey, Percy, Willie, Elmer, Aldie, and Carlos King; and three sisters, Mary Etta Cooks, Gladys Metheny, and Mamis Nugent.
He joined the U.S. Army November 8, 1943, and served in the Fourth Infantry Company B Medical Division. He was captured December 5, 1944 in the Hurtgen Forest by the Germans. He was a P.O.W in Stalag 6T, Stalag 6G, Stalag 12A, Stalag 4B where he ate sawdust to stay alive.
He escaped the Germans and was held by the Russians from whom he escaped and came back across the Elbe River. He was 19 at the time and did not know how to swim.
King was instrumental in having U.S. 70 designated as The Ex-P.O.W. Highway Blue Star Highway. He served as the national commander Ex P.O.W. He was a lifetime member of American Ex-Prisoners of War, VFW, American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans, 4th Infantry Division WWII and was an honorary member of Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club.
He loved to write poetry and songs.Surviving are his wife of 67 years, Mary Gaither King; two sons, Warren Garland King Jr. (Donna) and James Gaither King; two grandsons, Warren Garland King III (Tiffany) and Derrick Tyler King (Nikki); three sisters, Lena Connolly, Mildred Cox and Arlene Chitwood; two great-grandchildren and many nephews and nieces; and most importantly, the friends that he grew to love and cherish through the American Legion and Ex-P.O.W. organizations.
Services were held on Saturday, June 4, 2016, in Nashville.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Legion Post 82 on Gallatin Road. Nashville, Tenn.
Visit the online obituary: www.woodlawn-roesch-pattonfh.com.
